CBS Touts ‘Star-Studded’ Obama Cabinet, ‘Bold’ and ‘Inspired’ Choices

On the Saturday Early Show on CBS, President-elect Barack Obama’s Cabinet picks were presented positively as correspondent Kimberly Dozier referred to a "superstar Cabinet," and its members as "bold" and "inspired," while co-anchor Erica Hill called the Cabinet "star-studded." The terminology was similar to that employed by NBC's Andrea Mitchell on the previous night's Nightly News, as she referred to Obama's "all-star Cabinet."

During the 8:00 a.m. hour of the Saturday Early Show, as she filed a story regarding Obama’s choices of Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State and Timothy Geithner, also from the Clinton administration, for Treasury Secretary, Dozier introduced her report: "Well, Obama’s Cabinet picks are coming one by one, and they’re calling it, in some cases, a ‘superstar Cabinet.’" After informing viewers that Obama may ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay on, Dozier repeated the "superstar" label as she passed on praise from former Reagan Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein. Dozier: "Ronald Reagan’s former chief of staff says Obama’s taking a page from his boss’s book, choosing a superstar team for their skills, not their political persuasion."

At the beginning of the 9:00 a.m. hour, co-anchor Erica Hill teased: "The shape of things to come: President-elect Obama now close to completing his star-studded Cabinet, and now the hard work begins."Soon Dozier returned to introduce a report similar to that from the 8:00 hour and cited Republican praise, presumably referring to Duberstein, of Obama’s choices: "Some are calling it a return to the Clinton White House. Others, Republicans among them, are praising him for bold, and even inspired, choices."

Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Saturday Early Show on CBS from November 22:

CHRIS WRAGGE, DURING THE 8:00 A.M. HOUR: But first, let’s get to the news of the morning, and names of those being tapped for prized Cabinet positions in the Obama administration are coming in fast and furious, and even causing a stir on Wall Street. CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier is at the White House with the very latest for us bright and early on this Saturday morning. Kimberly, good to see you.

KIMBERLY DOZIER: Good morning, Chris. Well, Obama’s Cabinet picks are coming one by one, and they’re calling it, in some cases, a "superstar Cabinet." More announcements could come as early as Monday. President-elect Barack Obama officially offered the State Department to his former rival this week. A senior Hillary Clinton advisor told CBS News she will accept, but it won’t likely be announced until after Thanksgiving. Some call that "bold," others:

JEREMY SCAHILL, THE NATION: It’s starting to look very much like a staff reunion of Bill Clinton’s White House.

DOZIER: But look at what the Dow did Friday, recovering some 500 points when word leaked out that another former Clintonite would be offered the Treasury post. Tim Geithner is president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and a former Clinton Treasury official. And Obama’s team has hinted it will ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay on. He’s seen by many inside the Beltway as a nonpartisan pragmatist who has been key to the turnaround in Iraq. Ronald Reagan’s former chief of staff says Obama’s taking a page from his boss’s book, choosing a superstar team for their skills, not their political persuasion.

KEN DUBERSTEIN, FORMER REAGAN CHIEF OF STAFF: You may be changing Washington, but you need to know people who understand the road map, who have a bearing of how to get things done on Capitol Hill.

DOZIER: The Cabinet picks thus far are still largely Democratic former Ambassador to the UN, Bill Richardson, is now the leading candidate for Commerce. One more sign of Clinton redux, word that the Obama’s have chosen Sidwell Friends School for their daughters Malia and Sasha. That’s where Chelsea Clinton went, Chris.

...

ERICA HILL, IN OPENING TEASER FOR THE 9;00 A.M. HOUR: The shape of things to come: President-elect Obama now close to completing his star-studded Cabinet, and now the hard work begins.

...

DOZIER: Well, Obama’s team may be dragging their feet about making it official, but they’re moving rapidly ahead with filling his Cabinet. Some are calling it a return to the Clinton White House. Others, Republicans among them, are praising him for bold, and even inspired, choices.

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